You probably won’t see the same outward affection in Japan (especially in public), but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist!

好きです。 (すきです。) I like you.

大好きです。 (だいすきです。) I love you.

好き (literally: like) and 大好き (literally: like a lot) are great examples of this.

Although, in English, “I like you” doesn’t quite match up to that other three-word phrase, when said with sincerity both 好きです and 大好きです can be just as powerful as “I love you.” Speaking of love though, you’ll probably be needing the next word on the list…

愛 (あい) Love

Using this vocabulary word, there are two more formal ways that you can say love:

愛しています (あいしています)

愛してる (あいしてる)

These are both ways to literally say “I love you,” however they’re used far less often than 好きです or 大好きです.

If you’re still unconvinced about using 好きです you could say:

あなたのことが全部好きです。 (あなたのことが ぜんぶ すきです。) I like/love everything about you.

2. Old School vs. Modern Confessions of Love

Let’s be honest, what may seem really romantic in a movie or your favorite drama might be a little cheesy in real life.

Similarly, there are some ways to confess your love that haven’t been used since our great grandparents said their “I do’s.”

To confess to someone is 告白する (こくはくする) while to be confessed to is 告白される (こくはくされる).

The term for “date” is デート (でーと) while “to date” is デートする (でーとする). For example, this could be used in a sentence like:

今度どこかに一緒にデートしない？ (こんど どこかに いっしょに でーとしない？) Do you want to go on a date sometime?

You can also use the more formal (and more official-sounding) 交際する（こうさいする）to say “going out.”

付き合ってくれる？(つきあってくれる？) Will you go out with me?

お付き合いさせてください。(おつきあい させてください。) Please go out with me.

今度一緒にどこかに遊びに行きませんか？ (こんど いっしょに どこかに あそびに いきませんか？) Do you want to go out sometime?

私と付き合ってください。(わたしと つきあってください。) Will you go steady with me?

It may seem a bit of overkill to ask someone to go steady, but it’s actually very important to pop the following question to someone you’re interested in being with:

正式に付き合ってください。(せいしきに つきあってください。) Please officially go out with me.

This phrase allows you to tell your significant other when you want to take your relationship to the next level. You definitely don’t want to hear one of the following phrases in response to that:

私には付き合っている人がいます。(わたしには つきあっている ひとがいます。) I’m seeing someone.

私には（彼氏／彼女が）います。(わたしには（かれし／かのじょ）います。) I have a (boyfriend/girlfriend).

Hopefully you’ll get a “yes” or an “of course.” Especially if you’re asking the big question:

結婚してくれる？(けっこんしてくれる？) Will you marry me?

As we’re constantly looking towards the future, it’s no surprise that traditional proposals are becoming less and less common in many countries — Japan included. An old-fashioned proposal in Japan would sound like:

俺の味噌汁を作ってくれないか？(おれの みそしるを つくってくれないか？) Would you make me miso soup everyday?

俺と一緒のお墓に入らないか？(おれといっしょの おはかに はいらないか？) Will you share my grave with me?

The phrases above are great examples of something you might read in a manga (as a pun), but probably wouldn’t go over too well with your soon-to-be fiance(e) in modern times. If you’re really set on sounding traditional when you get on one knee, then the following phrase could be a fresher alternative:

一緒に年を重ねよう。(いっしょに としを かさねよう。) Let’s grow old together.

3. Terms of Endearment

The word for “boyfriend” is 彼氏 (かれし) or 彼 (かれ) and “girlfriend” is 彼女 (かのじょ).

If it gets too confusing, you can use the terms ボーイフレン ド (ぼーいふれんど) for boyfriend and ガールフレ ン ド（がーるふれんど) for girlfriend.

The word for “husband” is 夫 (おっと) and “wife” is 妻 (つま). For couples (mainly married couples), you might hear a woman call her partner あなた as a way of saying “dear.” (In Japanese, We often learn あなた as the term for “you.” ) You’ll probably receive a pet name from your partner before hearing them utter something like “honey” or “darling.”

Wait Up! One More Thing…

Love learning hip, casual Japanese that people actually use?

If that’s the case, head over to FluentU.

FluentU takes real-world Japanese videos—like music videos, movie trailers, documentaries, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. It naturally and gradually eases you into learning Japanese language and culture. You’ll learn real Japanese as it’s spoken in real life.

Just take a look at the wide variety of authentic video content we have available. Here’s a small sample:

You’ll discover tons of new Japanese vocabulary through these great clips.

Don’t worry about your skill level being an issue when it comes to understanding the language. FluentU makes native Japanese videos approachable through interactive transcripts.

Categories

About FluentU

FTC Disclosure

FluentU is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in other affiliate advertising programs for products and services we believe in.

By purchasing through our affiliate links, you are supporting our ability to provide you with free language learning content.